The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has stepped up efforts to strengthen digital capacity among women educators, providing high-specification HP OmniBook laptops to the National Association of Women in Colleges of Education (WICE) and enrolling 1,135 of its members in digital literacy courses.
The interventions are aimed at improving administrative efficiency, expanding digital skills and promoting technology-driven teaching and learning in Nigeria’s education sector.
The Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, disclosed this at the 30th Annual National Conference of WICE, themed “Dual Mandate: Global Impact; Reimagining Teacher Education for Sustainable Development”.
Inuwa said the provision of the computers would strengthen the association’s administrative operations by enhancing documentation, information management, communication, coordination and collaboration among its leadership and members.
He disclosed that NITDA had also enrolled 1,135 WICE members in digital literacy online courses through the NITDA-Cisco Networking Academy platform to improve their competencies in teaching, research and administration.
To complement the online training, the agency is supporting an in-person masterclass covering productivity tools, cybersecurity and generative artificial intelligence (AI). The programme is designed to equip participants with practical digital skills to improve workplace efficiency and encourage the responsible use of technology.
According to Inuwa, the interventions align with the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF) 2023, which targets 70 per cent digital literacy by 2027 and 95 per cent by 2030.
He added that the initiatives also support the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and its broader objective of building a digitally skilled and inclusive Nigeria.
The NITDA chief reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with WICE, stressing that equipping women educators with relevant technological tools and digital competencies would improve teaching and learning outcomes while contributing to the development of a future-ready workforce.
Speaking at the conference, Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Farouk Ibrahim, highlighted the importance of the dual mandate of Colleges of Education in expanding access to higher education, improving teacher preparation and equipping graduates with the skills needed to address emerging national and global challenges.
The governor emphasised the need for sustained investment in educational infrastructure, research, digital learning, staff development and institutional capacity, noting that teacher education must evolve in response to technological advancements, artificial intelligence and changing labour market demands.
He also acknowledged the contributions of women to educational development but identified persistent challenges, including limited leadership opportunities, inadequate funding for professional development and insufficient access to digital resources.
Yusuf called for stronger partnerships between Colleges of Education and schools to ensure that teacher preparation programmes remained responsive to learners’ needs and broader societal expectations.
Also speaking, WICE National President, Dr Magdaline Bisong, described the conference as a platform for professional renewal, knowledge sharing, networking and strategic collaboration among women educators.
She said the gathering was focused on advancing teacher education for sustainable development while strengthening the personal and professional capacities of members.
Bisong reaffirmed the association’s commitment to building the capacity of women in education, strengthening professional networks and promoting collaboration to improve educational outcomes and contribute to national development.
